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DR Congo national football team: players, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname
Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
DR Congo national football team, formerly known as Zaire and Congo Kinshasa, is a team that represents the Democratic Republic of the Congo in men's international football and the Congolese Association Football Federation controls it. The team is a member of FIFA and Confederation of African Football.
Source: UGC
What is DR Congo's national football team's nickname? Although the team was formerly dubbed Zaire and Congo Kinshasa, it is currently nicknamed The Leopards. What is DR Congo's national football team's roster? Have a peek into this article and discover more information regarding DR Congo's national football team, including details about the players, coaches and much more.
Profile summary
- Full name: DR Congo National Football Team
- Nickname: The Leopards
- Managed by: Congolese Association Football Federation
- Founded: 1919
- Colours: Red, blue, and white
- Federation: CAF
- Head coach: Héctor Cúper
- Captain: Marcel Tisserand
- Most caps: Issama Mpeko (76)
- Top score: Dieumerci Mbokani (22)
- FIFA ranking: 97 (as of December 2021)
- World cup appearance: 1974 (First appearance)
- Stadium: Stade des Martyrs
DR Congo National football team history
The Congolese Association Football Federation was founded in 1919 when it had not yet attained its independence. The team played their first game in 1948 as Belgian Congo against Northern Rhodesia, which is now recognised as Zambia, and managed to come out victorious after scoring 3 goals.
Consequently, DR Congo has since been FIFA affiliated and a member of CAF, appearing in various matches. However, the team's first official match was in 1963, when they played against Mauritania in the L'Amitie Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
AFCON campaign
The DR Congo team made its AFCON debut in 1965. While the team had its international success at the 1968 African Cup of Nations held in Ethiopia, their massive win came in 1969 when they recorded a 10-1 home victory against Zambia.
Source: Getty Images
Is DR Congo national football team playing AFCON 2021?
DR Congo is one of the major participants in the Africa Cup of Nations, participating in 19 editions of all tournaments. Additionally, they are one of the most successful teams in Africa, having won the titles twice in 1968 and 1974.
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However, since then, their success has been immensely fading for the national side of DR Congo, despite their frequent participation in the tournament's aftermath. Their best results since 1974 were third place in 1998 and 2015. However, they also made appearances in the 2017 quarter-finals and 2019 Round of 16.
As a result, DR Congo's last AFCON appearance was in 2019 when they played against Egypt during the Round of 16.
Who are the current DR Congo National football team captain and coach?
Every football team should have a pitch leader and a coach who is older or much more experienced than the other players. Have a look at DR Congo's captain and coach profiles below.
DR Congo National football team captain
Here is the profile of DR Congo's captain.
Profile summary
- Full name: Marcel Jany Émile Tisserand
- Date of birth: 10 January 1993 (age 29)
- Age: 29 years old (as of 2022)
- Place of birth: Meaux, France
- Height in inches: 6'1"
- Height in centimetres: 185
- Position(s): Centre-back, right-back
- Current team: Fenerbahçe
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DR Congo National football team coach
Source: Getty Images
Every soccer team needs a coach to lead the players. Have a look at the profile of DR Congo's coach below.
Profile summary
- Full name: Hector Raul Cuper
- Date of birth: 16 November 1955
- Age: 66 years old (as of 2022)
- Place of birth: Santa Fe, Argentina
- Nationality: Argentine
- Height in inches: 5'10"
- Height in centimetres: 179
Who are DR Congo National football team players?
While the team has been in existence for decades now, different players get selected for various games and matches depending on a given period. The following players have been recently called up for DR Congo.
Goalkeepers
- Joel Kiassumbua
- Lionel Mpasi
- Parfait Mandanda
- Braudel Efonge
- Riffi Mandanda
- Jackson Lunanga
- Katembwe Auguy Kalambay
- Timothy Fayulu
- Defenders
- Chancel Mbemba
- Ngonda Muzinga
- Christian Luyindama
- Fabrice Nsakala
- Arthur Masuaku
- Jordan Ikoko
- Idumba Fasika
- Marcel Tisserand
- Issama Mpeko
- Merveille Bokadi
- Chris Mavinga
- Henoc Inonga Baka
- Sita Luzolo
- Vital N'Simba
- Gédéon Kalulu
- Kikwama Mujinga
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Midfielders
- Neeskens Kebano
- Chadrac Akolo
- Samuel Moutoussamy
- Gaël Kakuta
- Edo Kayembe
- Joel Ngandu Kayamba
- Samuel Bastien
- Glody Likonza
- Paul-José M'Poku
- Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu
- Omenuke Mful
- Charles Pickel
- Giannelli Imbula
- Jérémie Mumbere
- Jonathan Ifunga Ifasso
Forwards
- Yannick Bolasie
- Dieumerci Mbokani
- Cédric Bakambu
- Ben Malango
- Jackson Muleka
- André Bukia
- Jonathan Okita
- Jonathan Bolingi
- Jordan Botaka
- Meschak Elia
- Britt Assombalonga
- Benik Afobe
- Joël Beya
- Yoane Wissa
- Walter Bwalya
- Kazadi Kasengu
DR Congo National football team world rankings
Source: Getty Images
According to the latest FIFA rankings, DR Congo sits in position 97 globally with 1221.4 points. So, what is DR Congo's national football team's FIFA highest ranking? Their highest ranking was position 28 in 2017, while the lowest was 133 in 2011.
DR Congo National football team trophies
DR Congo's first international honours came in 1968 when they won the African Cup of Nations Final.
- 1968 African Cup of Nations
- 1974 African Cup of Nations
- 1974 African Cup of Nations Final
- 2016 African Nations Championship Final
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Although some fans are beginning to lose hope of seeing the DR Congo national team play in the World Cup, some of the team's diehards have remained optimistic that the dream will soon pass.
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